Brazil's football star Neymar is getting involved in politics and has given his backing to former fellow international forward Romario in the upcoming gubernatorial elections next month. "I'm here to say I support you. To you and all those that are with you," Neymar, the Paris Saint-Germain striker, said in a message circulating on the internet.

Romario, who helped Brazil lift the World Cup in 1994, is running for governor of his native Rio de Janeiro in the October 7 elections. The former Barcelona forward is currently a senator for Rio. "I hope you can improve Rio de Janeiro a lot. I go there and love this city," said Neymar. Having retired from his playing career, Romario was first elected a Rio deputy in 2010 and then became a senator in 2014.